Federal Judge Upholds Louisiana Gay Marriage Ban

Louisiana’s gay marriage ban was upheld in a decision Wednesday (Sept. 3). Federal judge Martin Feldman ruled that ban could remain in place, becoming the first federal judge to rule in support of a state ban since the Supreme Court renounced the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013.

Feldman wrote, "Louisiana's decision to neither permit nor recognize same-sex marriage, formed in the arena of the democratic process, is supported by a rational basis.”

Feldman backed up his decision to uphold the ban with history writing, "The Court is persuaded that a meaning of what is marriage that has endured in history for thousands of years, and prevails in a majority of states today, is not universally irrational on the constitutional grid.”

The U.S. District judge was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1983 reports the Huffington Post.